Entry 301-3
Tips From the Tube and Jig Man - Denny Brauer
Editor’s Note: Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Missouri, one of the best flippers and pitchers in the nation, has as his stock-in-trade Strike King jigs and tubes. Brauer won a Bassmaster Classic fishing the tube. When you’re talking about successful jig fishing, Denny Brauer’s hard to beat anywhere, any day on any water. This week we’ll learn some of Brauer’s secrets to fishing tubes and jigs.
Part 3: The Flip-N-Tube is the Only Tube
Question: Denny, what tubes are you fishing?
Brauer: The only style tube I’ll fish is the 4-1/2-inch Flip-N-Tube, which was designed in 1998, the year I won the Bassmaster Classic. You can buy this jig in the regular or the Coffee Tube Flip-N-Tube. The coffee-flavored tube comes in a variety of colors that are really unique. I’ve learned that, at times, that coffee flavor will get me a few extra bites that I may not have gotten with a regular flipping tube. I carry quite a few tubes in both styles when I go to a tournament. I’ve caught fish on both style tubes. Unless we have a special event like fishing at Lake Erie for smallmouths, I don’t carry any smaller tubes than the 4-inch ones. But, if we go to a smallmouth lake, I will take a few of those 3-1/2-inch Kevin VanDam tubes.
Question: Denny, why do you not downsize your tubes if the bass aren’t biting? Usually in cold weather or muddy water, most fishermen will fish smaller tubes.
Brauer: There’s really no need to do that. A 4-1/2-inch tube is a small offering to a bass. You must remember that I’m not fishing for small bass. 
I’d rather not weigh-in at a tournament than catch a sack of little bass.If I begin downsizing to those little bitty baits, I won’t be fishing to win. The only reason I fish in tournaments is to win every tournament. I don’t fish to place, but I fish to win.
Many times after an event’s over, I’ll think, “Maybe I should’ve used some of those smaller lures and fished this tournament a little-more intelligently.” However, mentally, I can’t force myself to use little lures for small bass. When we go to a lake where we’re fishing for smallmouths, I’ll fish a drop-shot rig and other small baits because we’re fishing for 4- and 5-pound smallmouths. But when I’m fishing for largemouths, my mentality doesn’t let me use those small lures.
Next: Tube or Jig – Which One?
Contents:
- Part 1: What Jig, What Trailer, When and Why?
- Part 2: 2: Bet on the Football - Jig, That Is
- Part 3: The Flip-N-Tube is the Only Tube
- Part 4: Tube or Jig - Which One?
- Part 5: Where to Fish What
